NASA reveals secrets it has hidden on the Curiosity rover.

NASA has finally started revealing the secrets it hid in engineers in the Curiosity rover, which is currently driving on the surface of Mars.
Engineers at the space agency have admitted that they used special coded tyre tracks on the rover. They use morse code to spell out JPL (Jet
Propulsion Lab), the lab where the rover was put together. The track pattern — dot-dash-dash-dash, dot-dash-dash-dot, dot-dash-dot-dot (''.--- .--.
.-..'') — spells out ‘JPL’ in Morse code, which translates letters and numbers into a series of short (“dot”) and long (“dash”)
signals.

“We have intentionally put holes in the wheels to leave a unique track on Mars,” the Daily Mail quoted lead rover planner Matthew Heverly, of
NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, as saying. “So if we are in sand dunes where we don''t have lots of rock features around us, we can
use those patterns to do our visual odometry,” he said, In addition to the Morse code JPL, Curiosity’s wheels also feature a zigzag cleat pattern.
Codes on the rover will be used by a smartphone app.

The includes a code on the rover that, at some point in the future, NASA will be using a special smartphone app to give space fans information.
However, it has so far refused to give any more information on the codes, other than saying the tags will “allow the public to have an immersive
experience of discovery as it happens”. Fiduciary marks on the rover are used to checks its parts haven''t moved. Several are dotted over its
surface, looking like small targets.

Just read this interesting piece too:

A tiny chip on the rover carries the names of 1.24 million people who signed up via Nasa’s website A lucky penny is used to calibrate
Curiosity’s camera system, and Curiosity is also said to be carrying cash.

First time I hear about this feature on the rover. I am not sure if anyone else was aware of this, or if I am just a bit behind the times. However, I
found it quite interesting. The smartphone app should also be very interesting to check out, if, and indeed when it becomes available.

If Nasa has already revealed secrets on curiosity, Youve got to wonder what other more important secrets are on this Rover. Now that this is the 3rd
Rover to be put on Mars, im sure Nasa has had quite a few chances to sneak different experiments and other communication type secrets on this Rover,
besides codes on the tire tracks. Still Very Interesting that JPL would create tires that have codes on them. Wonder if they are expecting something
to see these codes besides Earth. They should of put a Binary code instead of Morse code if Nasa was expecting contact with other Intelligent life.
Weird.

If Nasa has already revealed secrets on curiosity, Youve got to wonder what other more important secrets are on this Rover. Now that this is
the 3rd Rover to be put on Mars, im sure Nasa has had quite a few chances to sneak different experiments and other communication type secrets on this
Rover, besides codes on the tire tracks. Still Very Interesting that JPL would create tires that have codes on them. Wonder if they are expecting
something to see these codes besides Earth. They should of put a Binary code instead of Morse code if Nasa was expecting contact with other
Intelligent life. Weird.

The JPL has a peculiar esprit de corps that leads it to engage in all manner of outrageous attempts at "branding." The lab was founded in
1936, twenty years before NASA, and they want everyone to know where credit is due!

Why is it ok that there is even such a thing as "NASA secrets"? This has to be stopped, but it never will be. If an agency like NASA that is
supposed to be civilian/scientific (but we know is more closely aligned with the military) is so secretive and evasive, imagine what else goes on in
our gargantuan, deceptive, and corrupt Government?

Why is it ok that there is even such a thing as "NASA secrets"? This has to be stopped, but it never will be. If an agency like NASA that is
supposed to be civilian/scientific (but we know is more closely aligned with the military) is so secretive and evasive, imagine what else goes on in
our gargantuan, deceptive, and corrupt Government?

There are no "NASA secrets" here, you just read about them in an Indian newspaper. The JPL is being a bit sophomoric; even the design of the tread
is a stylized JPL monogram. As for the "hidden codes," these are an attempt to generate popular interest in the mission by allowing iPhone users to
access "Easter eggs" on-line. Curiosity also has a live Twitter account. More PR razzmatazz to keep NASA on the "keeper" side of the budget axe.

"The includes a code on the rover that, at some point in the future, NASA will be using a special smartphone app to give space fans information.
However, it has so far refused to give any more information on the codes, other than saying the tags will “allow the public to have an immersive
experience of discovery as it happens”. Fiduciary marks on the rover are used to checks its parts haven''t moved. Several are dotted over its
surface, looking like small targets."

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